Draftexpress review of the Atlanta Hawks

[Joker]

Atlanta Hawks

Mike Bibby

Overview: A veteran point guard who can distribute and shoot equally well. Has decent size and bulk for the point guard position. Deceptively quick and fast, although not quite as athletic as he once was. Not a great leaper, but has the touch to finish creatively. A solid offensive floor general. Can run the point, but is also a tremendous scorer. Doesn’t bring a lot to the defensive end. Was a similar player during his two years at Arizona. Won the Pac 10 Player of the Year Award as a sophomore. Developed steadily to his current level of play, but has had trouble staying healthy. One of the best at his position when healthy. Father, Henry, had a fine NBA career and coached collegiately at Southern Cal.

Offense: A talented scoring point guard. Will score off of his spot up ability, take his man one-on-one, and run the pick and roll. One of the best shooting point guards in the game. Very consistent from three point range. Makes and takes a ton of attempts. Will knock down jumpers off the dribble with great consistency as well. Likes to take a rhythm dribble when the defense closes out on him too hard. Would shoot a much higher percentage if he displayed better shot-selection. Not much close range game. Doesn’t get to the rim at a very high rate due to his lack of explosiveness and ability to hit shots from the outside. Will finish creatively at the rim, and displays good touch on his finger roll, but isn’t athletic enough to be effective. Great free throw shooter when he can get to the line, which isn’t much these days. Solid ball handler and passer, although a bit too turnover prone. Loves to create offense in transition. Displays very good court vision. Won’t always give the ball up due to his ability to hit shots from the outside.

Defense: A mediocre defender who doesn’t bring much to the defensive end. Isn’t quick enough to stay in front of many starting point guards in the game today. Will make an effort to deny penetration periodically, but isn’t consistent. Much more interested in playing offense. Goes after long rebounds with an intent to turn the ball up the floor and run the fast break. Doesn’t have the length to contest every shot his man takes. Will make a good play on the ball occasionally. Needs to improve his effort, or at least look to deny penetration to help his teammates out.

Josh Childress

Overview: A long, lanky swingman with a solid all-around skill set. Does not excel in any one particular aspect of the game. Possesses solid athleticism, but his great work-ethic and feel for the game makes this less conspicuous. Has put on some weight since coming into the League. Remains very skinny, which makes him a bit injury prone. Owns a huge wingspan. Displays high-character off the floor, something that became very clear during his collegiate career with the Stanford Cardinals. Won the PAC 10 Player of the Year Award in 2004. Inability to add significant bulk has limited his durability and effectiveness around the rim. Versatility, smarts and finesse make him a valuable asset. Is a restricted free agent this offseason, and should find a number of suitors around the League.

Offense: Has a very smooth offensive game, but is the owner of one of the League’s most awkward jump shots. Displays a major hitch in his jumper and releases it with minimal elevation. Knocks it down consistently enough not to not have to fix it. Scores efficiently, which is the result of great shot selection. Shows a deceptive first-step. Is able to attack the rim off the dribble, and sets his man up by moving well off the ball. Isn’t the most efficient finisher due to his lack of vertical explosiveness. Does a good job of using his length and crafty footwork to beat defenders to the rim or get to the line. Doesn’t pull up off the dribble very often, since he connects with those kinds of shots at a pedestrian rate. Shows range out to three-point range, but his form gives him a very small margin for error, which is represented in his three-point percentage. Finds his offense in transition situations and drives off the dribble, both of which embody his desire to run the floor and his capacity to handle the ball well. Has good court vision, passing ability, and decision-making skills. Doesn’t play all that much point-forward since Joe Johnson fills that role. Won’t light up the scoreboard, but is a consistent contributor that gets his baskets in the flow of the offense. Provides a steadying presence on the floor in Atlanta, despite his age, and is a valuable asset in half-court sets.

Defense: Atlanta’s most fundamentally sound defender. Doesn’t have ideal foot-speed, but has tremendous defensive intangibles and a great wingspan. Reads ball-handlers extremely well, and creates turnovers by getting into passing lanes. Length and effort make him a very good perimeter defender. Lacks the bulk to defend strong players in the post, but makes an effort to deny entry passes by working hard to take away angles. Gets beat off the dribble periodically, but doesn’t give up anything easy at the rim. Does a good job of rotating with the ball. Isn’t reckless when closing out his man off of skip passes. Still manages to block a few shots due in large part to his long arms and good timing. Has great timing and knows how to get his team extra possessions.

Speedy Claxton

Overview: A lightning quick backup point guard, who excels in transition, but doesn’t have the offensive skill set to thrive in half court settings. One of the fastest players in the League. Able to run the ball up the floor, but doesn’t get a chance to in Atlanta’s methodical offensive system. Is limited physically, lacking size and strength. Has had a long line of injury problems that may end up defining his career. Still able to do some nice things on the floor when he is able to freelance and use his speed advantage. Had a very impressive career at Hofstra. Won the American East Conference Player of the Year Award as a junior and senior. Bounced around the League throughout his six year career, battling injury problems throughout. Won the NBA Championship with the Spurs in 2003. Enjoyed some success playing in up-tempo offensive systems.

Offense: Can do some positive things on the offensive end with the ball in his hands. Isn’t a very efficient scorer due to the inconsistency of his jump shot. Possesses decent form on his jumper, but its follow-through changes periodically due to the degree of elevation he has to achieve to shoot over defenders. Doesn’t always set his feet when shooting off the dribble. Has the range to step out to NBA three-point line. Never surprising to see him miss some shots badly because of his mechanics. First step makes him a threat to get into the lane at all times. Can finish around the basket when he has space. Makes his living as a lead guard. Shows the ability to create offensive opportunities for his teammates on a regular basis. Can break his man down consistently off the dribble. Has the athleticism to draw additional defenders with and without screens. Turns the corner with little trouble when executing the pick and roll. Makes good decisions when forced to pass. Sees the floor well. Is a handful in transition solely because he can get out in the open floor and make things happen. Possesses an extra gear that makes him tough for backpedaling defenders to contain. Has much better vertical explosion off one leg than off of two, a telling sign of the kind of threat he can be when pushing the ball up the floor. Unfortunately, is asked to act as a jump shooter in Atlanta, playing away from his biggest offensive strength.

Defense: Size is a hindrance defensively, but is a prototypical ‘water bug’ point guard. Pressures the ball as well as almost any player in the League. Uses his speed to make ball-handlers change direction multiple times before initiating offensive sets. Can be posted up and shot over by taller guards. Does a good job of getting his man out of rhythm. Is a work horse on the defensive end. Creates turnovers with his ball-hawking abilities.

Al Horford

Joe Johnson

Overview: A versatile small forward who has developed into a legitimate all-star player. Isn’t a freak athlete, but is very smooth and fluid and has an advanced feel for the game that allows him to more than effectively display his skill set. Wasn’t an overnight success. Put in two solid seasons at Arkansas before leaving for the League. Found himself in an ideal situation with the Phoenix Suns from 2003-2005. Blossomed into one of the best young swingmen in the game after being traded to the Hawks. Very intense demeanor on the court. Doesn’t make a lot of highlight reel plays, but shows the poise of a veteran and is the face of the retooling Atlanta franchise.

Offense: Has developed into one of the League’s best scorers. Scores in almost every way imaginable; score efficiently off of pick and rolls, dribble drives, post ups, and spot up jumpers. Almost impossible to guard one-on-one. Versatility makes him a tough matchup as well. Has beautiful form on his jumper. Has range and consistency both off the dribble and with his feet set. Displays good elevation and doesn’t have a very hard time getting his shot off over defenders. Can knock down shots off balance and with a hand in his face. Jumper makes him a formidable scorer from the perimeter by itself. Gets quite a bit of his offense around the rim. Has hesitation moves and crossovers that are extremely difficult to defend considering his length and impressive first-step. Prefers to go left, but is actually a more efficient scorer going right. Gets to the line at a decent clip, where he shoots a great percentage. Does quite a bit of ball-handling and acts as a point-forward on a pretty regular basis. Court vision and savvy make him an extremely versatile mismatch when doing so. Can dribble through pressure. Turns the ball over periodically, but handles such a heavy load offensive that it’s a bit surprising he doesn’t do it more often. Draws defenders to create opportunities for his teammates. Can push the ball and get up the floor on the wing equally effectively.

Defense: Plays very solid defense. Maintains a good stance, but doesn’t overexert himself. Makes the effort not to give up anything easy. Doesn’t create many turnovers considering the amount of time he spends on the floor. Isn’t the type of defender that is going to harass his man physically. Will get low and use his foot speed to deny penetration. Willingness to work on the defensive end allows him to get his hand on the occasional pass. Won’t take too many risks when playing passing lanes. Mixes it up on the glass from time to time, and rebounds at a decent clip. Usually wants to look for the outlet pass or run the floor when his man doesn’t crash the glass.

Solomon Jones

Acie Law

Zaza Pachulia

Overview: An atypical European post player who is more eager to play physical around the rim than shoot from the outside. From the Republic of Georgia. Has good size and bulk, but relatively pedestrian athleticism overall. Works hard, which overshadows many of his weaknesses, especially on the defensive end and as an option down low. Has nice fundamental skills on the low block. Really looks like a seasoned veteran in the post. Doesn’t have an amazing skill-set, but makes up for it with consistency and intensity, which is something that can’t be said for many NBA centers. Has seen his role shrink substantially with the addition of Al Horford. Hasn’t been as efficient as he has been historically because of that. A team player regardless and a very positive character in the locker room.

Offense: Doesn’t have the physical assets to dominate his man down low, but his craftiness allows him to put points on the board. Plays to his strengths. Understands that he isn’t going to overwhelm anyone with his athleticism or foot speed. Uses fakes to create angles and get shots up on the glass. Has good footwork. Doesn’t overpower defenders with his drop step. Creates open looks for himself none the less. Able to pivot around the defense and use his body to shield the ball to help him hide the fact that he isn’t explosive around the rim. Is solid but unspectacular as a jump shooter, showing good touch, but lacking a consistent release point. Tends to lean to the side when he shoots, which makes his shot look awkward. Shoots a good percentage from the line, so the elimination of that lean could do him some good. Doesn’t show a lot off the dribble. Can hit turnarounds with decent consistency after putting the ball on the floor. Maintains his position underneath allowing him to grab offensive rebounds and accumulate tip-ins. Has his limitations offensively, but shows the savvy or a seasoned veteran, which allows him to put up decent scoring numbers.

Defense: Limited physically, making it hard for him to make an impact on the defensive end. Susceptible to quicker post players. Lack of athleticism allows players to take advantage of him around the rim. Not incredibly big either for the center position. Does a decent job of denying entry passes. Isn’t a defensive stopper by any stretch of the imagination. Blocks an occasional shot, but isn’t explosive enough to get to many shots in the paint. Bodies his man and forces him into taking bad shots. Is a formidable matchup due to his toughness, but not one that will shut down scorers with go-to-moves. Tends to just box his man out and let his teammates grab rebounds.

Jeremy Richardson

Josh Smith

Overview: An elite run-jump athlete who is still polishing his other skills. One of the League’s most explosive leapers, and his length and height make him one of the game’s most impressive highlight-reel dunkers. Possesses ideal size for a small forward, and has improved his strength during his time in the NBA. Very fast for a player his height. Extremely versatile triple-double threat who makes an impact all over the court. Declared for the draft out of acclaimed basketball prep school Oak Hill Academy. Has had some issues in the locker room accepting coaching and maintaining positive body language on the court. Is still relatively young and inexperienced which may have created some of the problems he had in the past; his maturation as both a person and a player in the future will be an important step in the development of the Atlanta franchise. His maturity will no doubt have an impact on how he is perceived in restricted free agency this offseason.

Offense: Improved on the offensive end during each of his first three seasons as a pro. Came into the League with a smooth albeit raw left-handed stroke, and has developed it into a somewhat consistent weapon, although he still has a tendency to fall in love too much with his outside shot, and display very questionable shot-selection. Has improved considerably from his first year in the League, but is still inefficient in Atlanta’s half-court offense. Is much better in one-on-one and transition situations. Gets roughly thirty-percent of his offense in spot-situations, where he tends to either shoot right away or take the ball to the basket driving in either direction. Utilizes his athleticism extremely well. Frequently elevates over taller defenders when attacking the rim. Aggressiveness gets him to the line at a very solid clip. Has a very nice hook shot he likes to go to around the paint. Could definitely stand to improve his free throw routine. Plays on the ball for the Hawks at times. Is an above average passer for his size. Tends to turn the ball over when he puts it on the floor against experienced defenders. Ball-handling skills and shot-creating tools definitely need work. Attacks the offensive glass. Still needs to mature in other areas such as reading defenses and moving off the ball.

Defense: Arguably the best young defender in the NBA. Shows the uncanny ability to translate his athleticism into big plays. Few players show as much dedication running down plays and preventing transition baskets as Smith. Has made a number of highlight reel blocks in his career in which he ran down a ball-handler to send what seemed like an easy layup attempt into the stands. Shows the ability to not only dart into passing lanes for deflections, but also to rotate from the weak-side to block shots in half-court settings. Impressive dedication to rebounding. Shows an acumen for crashing the boards that isn’t common amongst wing players. Doesn’t do the best job boxing out, but compensates with unreal length and jumping ability. Able to recover even when he over pursues his man when closing out due to his huge strides and explosive quickness. Commits quite a few fouls, but it comes as no surprise for a player as aggressive as he is.

Salim Stoudamire

Overview: A pure left-handed shooter who makes a living behind the arc. Lacks ideal size, strength, and athleticism by NBA standards, and has struggled with conditioning problems in the past. Has everything you look for and them some in a shooter. May not see his role expand much during his career unless he develops better point guard skills. Isn’t a great locker room presence and has had his share of problems in the past. Considered somewhat moody and aloof. Had some problems at Arizona, but put up some ridiculous shooting numbers as a senior. Shooting consistency will determine the interest he receives when he enters free agency this offseason. Cousin of Memphis point guard Damon Stoudamire.

Offense: The most distinguished feature of Stoudamire’s game is the elevation, consistency, and quickness with which he shoots his jumper from the perimeter. Gets more than one-third of his offensive from spot up opportunities on the perimeter, which is indicative of how he has embraced his role as the team’s shooting specialist. Nearly 60% of that one-third are no-dribble jumpers. Drives right the vast majority of the time when he decides to put the ball on the floor. Pulls up significantly more often then he attacks the rim, as he doesn’t have the athleticism to finish in traffic. Isn’t a point guard by any stretch, but shows some nice court vision on occasion. Possesses only average decision-making skills. Won’t handle the ball in clutch situations. A tremendous free-throw shooter and an asset to have in crunch time.

Defense: Largely undistinguished defender. Limited by his size, quickness, poor wingspan, and lack of effort. Shows decent anticipation when attacking passing lanes. Seizes opportunities to take the ball the other way, but doesn’t look to make plays himself. Becomes a liability on the defensive end when matched up with physically superior players, as he often does at the 2-guard position. Isn’t quick enough to cover some point guards and isn’t tall or strong enough to defend the shooting guard position. Usually gets the easiest defensive assignment on the floor, which hides some of his weaknesses.

Mario West

Marvin Williams

Overview: A blossoming young forward who is starting to live up to the potential that made him a top-2 selection. One of the top players in the HS class of 2004. Won the NCAA title at North Carolina in 2005 under Roy Williams. Has solid athleticism to go with good size. Still has room to add weight to his frame. Starting to turn the corner, and appears to be working hard to improve his game. Struggled initially to find a position on the floor and did not have the aggressiveness you would expect from a player drafted so high. Worked through that and appears to be on the verge of becoming the special player many thought he would be.

Offense: Has improved his jump shot significantly since entering the League. Shoots no-dribble jumpers in two-thirds of his spot-up situations; a telling sign of where he is most comfortable at this point. Gets most of his other touches from one-on-one dribble drives and in transition, but seems extremely content hoisting shots from the perimeter when defenders give him space. Able to shoot an above average percentage on mechanics alone. Kicks his legs from time to time when in rhythm, which makes him look less fluid. Could stand to take that out of his game and improve his footwork. Needs to improve both his consistency and aggressiveness to reach his potential. Asked to post up periodically. Shows some decent moves down low. Tends to avoid turning to the baseline when posted up on the right side, but shows the ability to score over both shoulders at a decent clip from the left block. Doesn’t crash the glass as hard as he should given his athleticism. His future remains on the perimeter, and he needs to improve his ball-handling skills and range in order to take advantage of his physical assets. Wouldn’t hurt him to cut down on his turnovers and look to assert himself off the dribble more frequently either. Has shown the ability to get to the line at a high rate. His ability to shoot a good percentage will make his development as a slasher that much more worthwhile.

Defense: A tweener? Doesn’t translate his physical talents to the defensive end as well he translates them to the offensive end. Has a tough time defending the post. Is susceptible to bigger more experienced post players. Can make an impact defending the perimeter. Ability to contest shots on the perimeter, coupled with the fact that he doesn’t take a lot of risks shows how solid a defender he is. A little bit too upright in his stance, which makes it tough for him to stay in front of quicker small forwards. Commits some unnecessary fouls, but that shouldn’t be a problem as he acclimates to his competition. Rebounds the ball at a good rate.

[mattlanta]

GREAT read. Thank you for posting.

However, how come some players are not included in this report?

[Joker]

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GREAT read. Thank you for posting.

However, how come some players are not included in this report?

We begin a series providing in-depth scouting reports breaking down every single player (non-rookie or sophomore) in the NBA over the next few weeks, starting with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons in the Central Division. Every team will be covered.

From draftexpress.com

[bronnt]

Well that's a good read. I find it to be rather accurate about Bibby, if a bit generous. Accurately describes Childress and JJ as well.

What threw me was Josh Smith "Impressive dedication to rebounding." I might just have to challenge that assertion. He's strong and athletic enough that he SHOULD do a better job on the defensive boards. Considering his offensive rebounding rate, he should be getting more than 6 boards per game on the other side of the floor. And the funny thing is, I've seen actually work harder to block out and attack the boards in situations where Al Horford isn't on the floor. It seems that sometimes, with Al in the game, the rest of the team just lets him grab the rebounds.

And they were WAY too nice about his jumpshot and his shot selection. I've never found his jumper to be "fluid." His release point is all messed up, and he throws up some ugly, ugly shots. There's something else that looks disjointed, and I think it has to do with cocking his arms too much. He seems to use too much elbow and not enough wrist-I don't study film of him to evaluate it, but I know there's something in his motion that bothers me.

They were also a little too kind in evaluation Marvin Williams. He doesn't really have a post game-he's not deceptive enough in his attack, and isn't strong enough to bully his way past guys who are, for the most part, bigger and stronger. If he suddenly added 20 pounds of muscle and developed a better head fake, we might have something. Especially if he finds a way to hit a turnaround jumpshot consistently. That last might be the first step in making him a player who can consistently score. His jump shot is smooth and his mechanics are solid enough that I think the turnaround jumper should be something he can add to his game.

[TruJerz]

very good read. But why no Horford?? I was looking forward to what he would say about the rookie. He seems to have faith in Marvin just like me lol

[mattlanta]

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very good read. But why no Horford?? I was looking forward to what he would say about the rookie. He seems to have faith in Marvin just like me lol

Do you read the other posts before you even post? I mean... I can understand if there were dozens of replies that you didn't feel like reading, but there are only around three replies that you had to read.

[Joker]

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Well that's a good read. I find it to be rather accurate about Bibby, if a bit generous. Accurately describes Childress and JJ as well.

What threw me was Josh Smith "Impressive dedication to rebounding." I might just have to challenge that assertion. He's strong and athletic enough that he SHOULD do a better job on the defensive boards. Considering his offensive rebounding rate, he should be getting more than 6 boards per game on the other side of the floor. And the funny thing is, I've seen actually work harder to block out and attack the boards in situations where Al Horford isn't on the floor. It seems that sometimes, with Al in the game, the rest of the team just lets him grab the rebounds.

And they were WAY too nice about his jumpshot and his shot selection. I've never found his jumper to be "fluid." His release point is all messed up, and he throws up some ugly, ugly shots. There's something else that looks disjointed, and I think it has to do with cocking his arms too much. He seems to use too much elbow and not enough wrist-I don't study film of him to evaluate it, but I know there's something in his motion that bothers me.

They were also a little too kind in evaluation Marvin Williams. He doesn't really have a post game-he's not deceptive enough in his attack, and isn't strong enough to bully his way past guys who are, for the most part, bigger and stronger. If he suddenly added 20 pounds of muscle and developed a better head fake, we might have something. Especially if he finds a way to hit a turnaround jumpshot consistently. That last might be the first step in making him a player who can consistently score. His jump shot is smooth and his mechanics are solid enough that I think the turnaround jumper should be something he can add to his game.

I thought they were generous to all, I thought the Marvin post game was accurate if you go by the regular season.